The European Union has its sights on Snapchat and opened an investigation into the social media platform.
According to regulators, Snapchat might not be doing enough to ensure minors on its platform aren’t being groomed and recruited “for criminal purposes.” They also want to see how easy or difficult it is to access information on how to buy illegal drugs and age-restricted products.
That’s not all. Regulators argued Snapchat’s self-declaration system for one’s age isn’t enough to make sure those younger than Snapchat’s age minimum can’t access the platform.
They also argued Snapchat does not properly assess when someone is less than 17 years old and fails to prevent adults from exploiting the current system to lie about their age and pretend to be younger than they really are.
In all, regulators are looking into whether Snapchat violated the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which was designed to provide safeguards for minors using online platforms.
Regulators are currently in the process of collecting evidence. They also sent out interview invitations and information requests to Snapchat’s parent company, Snap.
In a statement sent to Engadget, a Snapchat spokesperson said the company is fully cooperating with regulators and has worked to meet the DSA’s requirements.
“The safety and wellbeing of all Snapchatters is a top priority, and our teams have worked for years to raise the bar on safety,” reads the statement.
“Snapchat is designed to help people communicate with close friends and family in a positive, trusted environment, with privacy and safety built in from the start – including additional protections for teens. As online risks evolve, we continuously review, strengthen, and invest in these safeguards.”
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